Description ADULT Has gray, mostly un - marked, plumage overall, palest on underparts; note the white eyering. Wings, however, are rather dark and contrastingly marked with orange-buff patches and whitish tips to tertials and greater coverts; in flight, dark median line to pale underwing coverts is striking, as is pale wing bar seen above. Tail is mostly black, but with white edges and broad tips to outer feathers. JUVENILE Shares wing and tail markings with adult, but body is brown overall with pale spots above and scaly appearance below.

Dimensions Length: 8-9 1/2" (20-24 cm)

Habitat Common summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to montane coniferous forests. Moves south and to lower altitudes in winter, and present year-round in parts of south.

Voice Song is a rich, chattering warble, with a finchlike quality; call is a whistled, sonar-bliplike tu, tu÷.

Discussion Slim-bodied and long-tailed bird. is evocative of wilderness forests. Often sits on exposed perch for long periods, adopting upright posture. Varied diet includes insects and berries. Nests in crevices on steep slopes. Sexes are similar.